Youths give ZYC ultimatum, threaten tough measures “Our hands are clean”: ZYC BY FRANCIS RWODZI LAST week The New Age Voices carried an article with reac- tions of some youth organisations and other stakeholders on the suspension of YETT’s licence by the Zimbabwe Youth Council. The Editor of The New Age Voices Francis Rwodzi had a no holds barred interview with the Chairman of ZYC, Hamilton Pazvakavambwa and Director Livingstone Dzikira to get an insight into the rationale behind the council’s deci- sion and its subsequent implications. This week we also give you the latest developments within the civic society over the ZYC-YETT story. Pazvakavambwa told The New Age Voices that the decision to suspend YETT is not aimed at attacking any youth organisation but on enforcing the rules and regulations and setting parameters based on the development of young peo- ple. “There must be no illusions. Youth organisations must simply conform to the rules and regulations that govern the youth sector and as the Zimbabwe Youth Council we are there to enforce those regulations. People should not just go about doing as they please as if there are no regulations. If you go to America and Britain and so on, the rules are clear, you have to observe them,” Pazvakavambwa said. When asked whether the suspension was procedural or not, Pazvakavambwa was elusive but maintained the decision taken by the council was for the good of young people. “The bottom line is that we cannot have a situation where people can receive and parcel out funds willy-nilly, what if those funds are terrorist funds? We have no bone to chew with YETT but we want them to do the proper thing. As you are aware this is just a suspension and not a cancellation like what some people are saying, they just have to explain themselves,” he said. “You quoted someone saying that the council is equiva- lent to a burial society. It is quite strange because it is that same institution they seconded board members to,” said Pazvakavambwa. He said Youth in this country are actually disempow- ered because they waste their time writing concept papers to countries struggling with their economies instead of writing business proposals meant for development. Dzikira said that contrary to rumours that they are clamping down on youth organisations, the council is committed to serve youth organisations and said that Youth Forum was never an issue but just a case study. “We are surprised at the reaction of Youth Forum be- cause we have no issues with them, they are just beneficiar- ies. We are more concerned with the people who are funding their operations. We didn’t know YETT until they registered with us about a month ago but what we have seen is that they are funding pro-MDC youth organisations. If they want to fund youths they should just give money to all regardless of political affiliation. We are saying YETT should depoliti- cise,” Dzikira said. “If Promise Mkwananzi sets up a youth fund for his youth assembly, we have no problems as long as it has de- clared its political nature,” he said. In latest developments, this paper was able to peep through the council’s fresh communiqué where Dzikira has written to YETT asking them to furnish the council with de- tails of the YETT-SIDA youth fund outlining details of the total amount of the grant, the organisations that they are working with and the total amounts that they have received and the addresses where they are found including the nature of their activities. Dzikira says that this is in accordance with section 13, 14 and 15 of the ZYC Act. Meanwhile, youth organisations under the banner of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition have given ZYC a 7 day ulti- matum to lift the suspension of YETT or face action. The organisations said they are concerned about the continued harassment and political meddling in the affairs and work of youth organizations by the ZYC and the execu- tive, as represented by the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenization and Empowerment. The Crisis youth committee said the suspension of YETT from ZYC was unprocedural because the Registration and Compliance Committee of the ZYC board did not meet to discuss the issue as per the provisions of the ACT. They also said that YETT was not asked to appear be- fore a disciplinary committee as provided for by section 22 (2) of the act which states that “the council shall not suspend or suspend the registration of any club until it has given the club an opportunity to be heard.” “The decision to suspend YETT from the Council was taken by the Director in direct contravention of the ZYC Act section 3B which provides for the establishment of the Coun- cil further supported by Section 16. “We further condemn the spate of tension that has been witnessed in the operations of the Zimbabwe Youth Council with other youth organizations. “ZYC must immediately stop the harassment and vic- timization of youth organizations and reinstate YETT as a council member of ZYC within a period of 7working days,” said the committee. The youth coalition demanded that “ZYC must with immediate effect stop harassing and traumatizing the Director of YETT based on patriarchal tendencies and irresponsible male dominance. That the ZYC space be all inclusive includ- ing space for young women’s participation in all youths spheres without discrimination”. They also demanded that “The Zimbabwe Youth Coun- cil Act must be amended to allow youths to determine their leaders, free expression and association and reduce executive powers of the Minister of Youth in ZYC affairs with special reference to sections 3A(1); 3D(C ); 3E; 3F(1)(a); 3G; 6(1); 8; 9; 10(1); 24(3); 26”. “Principals of the Global Political Agreement together with Parliament of Zimbabwe must set up a credible, Inde- pendent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the composi- tion and operations of ZYC. “ZYC must, in a non partisan manner, fulfil its mandate of providing an inclusive platform for all youths to deliberate on youth issues,” the coalition demanded. They also said as the principal chief advisor to govern- ment on youth issues and concerns “ZYC must embark on thorough and inclusive processes that holistically encompass the input of youth from various backgrounds”. The coalition threatened that failure to abide by the demands, civic society will recall all pro-democratic youths from the ZYC Board, youth organizations will disengage from the council’s activities and affairs, civic society will pursue legal avenues to challenge both the legality of the sus- pension and constitutionality of the ZYC Act and actions and that youth Organizations in Zimbabwe and the youths at large will cease to recognize the existence and or establishment of Zimbabwe Youth Council. BY STAFF REPORTER AS Zimbabwe warms up to key elections namely the refer- endum and national elections likely to take place next year, the country’s capital city has been engulfed by waves of violence which have taken various forms and magnitudes casting into doubt Harare’s capacity to hold a serious elec- tion. The violence which has been slowly unfolding in various parts of the country especially the marginalised areas reached fever pitch two months ago when rowdy Zanu PF youths descended on Parliament building and assaulted members of parliament, a journalist and members of the audience who had come to the hearing of the human rights bill. Such behaviour has been condemned by human rights watchdogs and civil society organisations notably the Zim- babwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Youth Agenda Trust among others. On Tuesday Zanu PF took its terror campaign a gear up by assaulting commuter omnibus drivers, conductors and rank marshals right at the charge office in full view of the police. The violent youths believed to be members of the dreaded Chipangano youth militia from Mbare descended on the Charge Office bus terminus and demanded fees from minibus drivers plying the Sunningdale-City route. It is believed the gang is attempting to control the terminus. The gang assaulted drivers who resisted their demand for one dollar per trip. The New Age Voices is reliably in- formed that the money is eventually forwarded to senior ZANU PF provincial officials for use in party activities. The militia reportedly attacked rank marshals, drivers, conductors and anyone who resisted but Zanu PF spokes- person Rugare Gumbo disowned them saying Chipangano “does not belong to us”, although it is clear the militia is the backbone of Zanu PF Harare province violence team. Only two weeks ago, members of Chipangano took their violence to Parliament again and this time attacked people who had come to witness the official opening of the 7 th Parliament by President Robert Mugabe, an indication that the Zanu PF leader might be struggling to reign in his errant youths. One Zanu PF legislator who requested anonymity for fear in of reprisals just summed it up saying, “I have never seen anything like this in my entire life. Who can dare en- gage in violence in the presence of the president? Also this month, Zanu PF youths descended on High- fields high density suburb and assaulted traders at the Muk- ambo market before they looted wares worth thousands of dollars in their bid to also take over the market stalls. With the re-emergence of the Border Gezi Training camps lookalike known as the Youth Build Zimbabwe pro- gramme, it is a sure bet that the impending elections may take a violent route as was with the case with the March 2008 which left without limbs while others are still missing up to today. Analysts say if the Zanu PF youths are allowed to continue with their violent activities, a free and fair election will continue to be a pipe dream for the millions of Zimba- bweans who have been searching for a democratic solution to the numerous challenges that the country has been facing for 3 decades with the last decade having been the most daunting. Harare burning: Country sliding into anarchy Minister of Youth of Youth Indigenisation and Empowerment Saviour Kasukuwere of Zanu PF. His ministry has been accused by many for resurrecting Border Gezi training camps where youths such as Chipan- gano of Mbare used to subject other youths to untold suffering and abuse.